Bolstering Teachers to Boost Students’ Academic Achievement
Research shows a strong link between third grade reading aptitude and career success. Emerging from the pandemic, Puerto Rico charter school Vimenti sought to strengthen language skills for its K-6 students, starting with a program to bolster its teachers.
“I think we all know that COVID was a big factor in kids missing one to two school years, probably at critical ages, from pre-K, first [grade] and not having access to literacy instruction,” says Nathaly Batista-Morales, TNTP director of academics. “And that led to, what do I do with this kid who is two years behind, and how scary is it for me to actually put grade-level text in front of them?”
Vimenti is Puerto Rico’s first public charter school and serves 274 students who live in public housing. In addition to academic success, it is committed to economic and social mobility for the families it supports. The school looked to nonprofit TNTP to help make significant strides towards its mission, starting with teachers.
“A lot of teachers are not actually trained to support students in an effective way who have unfinished learning,” adds Bonnie Driscoll, TNTP director of academics. “We know the fire that brings people to teaching. I feel like some people feel like that fire has been put out a little bit or the light has been dimmed for them.”
Read the full article at WorkingNation.
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Imali Ariyarathne, seventh-grade teacher at Langston Hughes Academy, introduces her students to the captivating world of science.
About TNTP
TNTP is the nation’s leading research, policy, and consulting organization dedicated to transforming America’s public education system, so that every generation thrives.
Today, we work side-by-side with educators, system leaders, and communities across 39 states and over 6,000 districts nationwide to reach ambitious goals for student success.
Yet the possibilities we imagine push far beyond the walls of school and the education field alone. We are catalyzing a movement across sectors to create multiple pathways for young people to achieve academic, economic, and social mobility.